The year 2016 has almost come to an end and I have not written to thank you for your loyal support and generosity this year and for the last 20 years . Yes ,I will be 20 years in Peru in March 2017 . 27 years have passed since I left Växjö .But the memories of my very happy years in Småland live on in my heart .

A lot has happened in those 20 years and I have seen many changes and developments here in our pueblo joven (young town ) of Villa El Salvador .Some of The young women I have worked with during these years are now well educated and grandmothers and " the babies" are in third level education .! Adolescents who came from the mountain regions to work as maids without having finished primary school have themselves got third level certificates and diplomas .

Much of this is thanks to you . You have helped us to set up and run the day care centre Vida y Esperanza where the mothers could leave their children while they went to study. Our Comedor Infantil ( nutricion programme ) ensure that the children receive a well balanced meal . The talks to parents have taught the mothers how to prepare nutricious and inexpensive meals thus preventing malnutricion and anemia. Being properly nourished , several of the children have done well in school and have won scholarships ( Beca 18 ) to universities in Lima. and to institutes of technology.

At the moment there are 40 children between the ages of 1 year and 9 years at our Centre. The majority pay 5 soles ( roughly one euro ) per day . Others pay less according to their means . Sometimes because of illness in the family or desertion of a father a child is accepted free for a certain length of time . Normally this daily fee covers the cost of the food . But it does not leave anything for the carers and kitchen staff. Without YOUR donation we would not be able to give a stipend to the personnel . Gracias !Gracias !

As some of the children are quite small we need to replace the materials from time to time .Your gifts go towards educational materials and games . Sometimes people think that these aides are not available in Peru .Actually if one has money almost anything can be bought here in Lima .But very often the problem is ....lack of funds .Thank YOU for helping us overcome that problem ..

It is quite some time now since we had a visit from anyone from Sweden .If you decide to visit Macchu Picchu or the jungle area of Peru and have time in Lima please do not hesitate to get in contact and you'll be very welcome to visit Vila El Salvador ( it's about an hour from Miraflores ,the tourist part of Lima ) .

My apologies for not writing in Sewdish (.I have not forgotten it but it is a bit rusty when it comes to writing !) I know that Marie Louise will translate it beautifully .

Hälsning från Peru

Dear Friends who are interested in our association, and what we are doing, especially our honorary members in Ireland, Holland, Sweden,The USA,and ALL our Friends.My name is Aurora Lopez. I'm writing this letter in the name of the members of our association,the children and adolescents who participate in our programme.

We are very grateful for your support by your prayers and your finiancial gifts. Thanks to you we are able to continue our programme for children. We do not receive help from our government or any other institution (,although we keep trying ).We work directly with the parents of the children and adolescents who participate in the programme.

The families with whom we work are in need financially, Many have experienced violence in their homes or been abandoned by their father. The parents of our children are either studying or working, and several are receiving councilling.They all want to improve their quality of life and break the chain of poverty and violence.

The children are in our care from 8 am to 5 pm.The little one of 6 months to 3 years are at the centre all day.The older ones go to the local state school in the morning or the afternoon.They all receive a well balanced nutricious midday meal and a snack in the afternoon.The school children get help with their homework and stay at the centre until their parents collect them.This year has been difficult in many ways,We had problems with the electricity and water system, and a robbery.But iwe fulfilled our plan of work with the children.

During the year we organised 3 fund raising activities with the parents and local community.We had two second hand clothes sales and a "pollada " ( sale of a chicken and potato plate ).The proceeds were used towards the gas , electricity and water bills as well as the purchase of didactic materials.

During the summer months of January and February we organised workshops for the children, adolescents and adults (mothers).These included ballet , modern and folk dance, karate, English and aerobics. The participants paid 25 soles ( $8 or 7 euro )..There were 270 of whom 30 were exonerated because of family circumstances.. On the last day of the course we had an outing for the families who had participated. As usual the youngsters spent most of the day in the swimming pool while the parents relaxed on the grass and enjoyed the greenery and the country air.

As rain has become more frequent here in the desert of Peru and our buildings have flat cement roofs we had to cover the building with a tin roof so that the water would drain off. This cost us 3000 sols ($1000) We also improved the electrical fittings. During this coming year we will have to make the dining and kitchen area more secure incase of an earthquake. Many of the buildings here in Villa El Salvador were constructed very informally. But as we live in an area with a high risk of an earthwake or tsunami the municipality is requiring greater safety measures, especially in public buildings.

We are always happy to welcome visitors.In 2015 Brother Paul and Brother Stephen brought several groups of students and adults from Argentina , Urugruay and the USA.A group from Regis college, near Boston spent their spring break with us and in the month of May our good friend Kyle came with a group of students from Creighton college Nebraska They studied and worked with us for 6 weeks.During their time here they built a house for a family who had lived in a shack Just before last Christmas we were very happy to welcome Sister Clare's nephew Greg and his wife Ann.. What joy we had to see again our good friends Fr Joe Shields and Fr Adrian Crowley in the month of November.

My friends when speaking to groups I often talk about Providence and always say that YOU are God's Providence for us.Daily we thank God because without Him and without YOU we would not be able to do what we do.May the God of Life protect you and your loved ones.

To our friends and those interested in us

My name is Aurora Lopez Baltazar. I am president of the Association Life and Hope.We are a group of people, who live in Villa El Salvador and formed an association called Life and Hope . Sister Clare Dawson is part of the group and like a mother to us. For the last 16 years we have been at the service of the most vulnerable of our society, children, adolescents and women. Dear Friends, First I would like to thank each one of you for your help and your interest in what we do. For my collegues and for me it is a pleasure to share with you our objectives,dreams and difficulties. During 2014 our programme for children has been very successful, benefitting 60 children between the ages of 6 months and 6 years. While there parents have been working or studying these children have been looked after, taught and received a well balanced midday meal and afternoon snack..There have been cases of emergency in families in the community ( an accident or illness ) and then the children were looked after without contributing anything.. The majority of parents work as maids, street vendors, collectors of recycable goods which they can then sell. As an institution we believe that Education.Values,Solidarity and.proper Food are fundamental for the well-being of our children and adolescents.For this reason we encourage parents to improve personal and family life. We began the year 2014 with what we cal "l Vacaciones Utiles " ( USEFUL HOLIDAYS ), worhshops and classes in Mathematics, Literacy, English, Dancing, Aerobics,Crafts, Martial Arts and Learning by Playing.This last mentioned workshop is for the 3 to 6 year olds and was a great success.

The workshops lasted 8 weeks and were attended by children, adolescents and adults. People paid according to their means.We finished the classes by going on a family outing to a park in the country,where there was lots of greenery - trees, bushes, grass, flowers, animals, play areas and 2 swimming pools.A great day was had by all ! During the year we organised 5 activities to raise funds.The money was used for repairs to our building, windows and doors,,the installation of water on the second floor ..As we live on sand we had to get several truck loads of earth to make a " pozo tierra " (a well of earth ) so that the electricity could be earthed.This was to improve the electrical system in accordance with civil defence regulations..We also bought educational materials.

The activities ;

the sale of second hand clothes, two "polladas " ( a very Peruvian activity,we buy chickens, potatoes , etc and sell tickets to people to buy a plate or more of food ). The activities were organised by personel and parents. We were very happy to receive visits from students, friends and benefactors from the USA,, Argentina, Ireland.Holland and Sweden.Our friend Marie Louise Svensson from Vaxjo, Sweden was the first person to fund raise for us many years ago and she is an honorary member of the association.Our programme is maintained thanks to the support and help of friends like you and also the parents of our children.We do not get any help at all from the State. The indifference of the State is a problem for us.We have asked to be included in the Socila programmes for Food and to have natural gas installed in our kitchen but NO.As usual those who suffer most are the most vulnerable - children and families living below the bread line. No year is complete without its sorows and what sadness we felt on hearing of the sudden death of our dear friends and supporter, Fr Goran Degen of Sweden. Rest in Peace dear Papa Noel. Thanks to you,dear friends,we were able to celebrate Christmas in a special way with staff,parents and children.Every child received a gift and there was hot chocolate and paneton (Peruvian style Christmas cake ) for everyone. With the help of God we hope to expand our programme in 2015 and work with the 7 to 10 year olds. Without your interest and help it would be very difficult for us to have this programme.With all our heart we thank you and ask the God of Life to bless you and your loved ones with Joy, Peace, Hope and Love. Know that if you ever come to Lima, Peru there will be a welcome for you at Vida y Esperanza day care cantre in Villa El Salvador.